SRN air quality battle hits new barrier

25/09/2023 | CHRIS AMES

A dispute has broken out between National Highways and the suppliers of a roadside barrier with a coating designed to tackle toxic air pollution that was trialled on the strategic road network (SRN).

The national roads operator told Highways that it will not be using the barrier on the SRN, while the company behind the product said that ‘predictable’ problems with the trial meant that few conclusions could be reliably ascertained.

The SmogStop barrier, designed and marketed by Envision SQ and Gramm Barrier Systems, is a combined noise and air pollution barrier, designed to use a photocatalytic coating to remediate nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from vehicles.

According to the report on the trial, published last month, the barrier was tested on the M1 near Tibshelf from September 2020 until August 2021, in a comparison with a similar wooden barrier.

A SmogStop barrier 100 metres long was installed nine metres from the carriageway, with a total barrier height 3.5 metres.

A 100-metre, three-metre high long wooden control barrier without the photocatalytic remediation was installed immediately south of and adjoining the SmogStop barrier.

The report notes that a SmogStop barrier was previously trialled at a height of six metres in Toronto, Canada.

It states that the research, carried out by independent experts on behalf of National Highways and GRAMM, found that the barrier had little impact on NO2 levels when compared to having no barrier.

Using the Government’s Emissions Factor Toolkit, the researchers estimated the photocatalytic remediation of the NO2 emissions to be equivalent to the removal of around 230 vehicles per day, from 100,000 vehicles travelling along the barrier.

In a statement, National Highways told Highways: ‘National Highways will not be pursuing this product for use on our network. National Highways does not endorse or recommend any products for use on roads that are not part of the Strategic Road Network. As the research is now complete, we will not comment further on this product.’

Envision SQ CEO Scott Shayko told Highways that despite problems in the trial, ‘some of which were predictable, and communicated to National Highways in advance’ the research recorded 'statistically significant reductions in NO2 at distances of five and 15 metres behind the barrier, compared to the control barrier'.

He cited issues such as the unreliability of diffusion tube technology used for measurements, lost data due to numerous instrument failures, and the distance from the carriageway and height of the barrier used.

He said: ‘Initially, we were pleased to be selected to work with National Highways in a co-operative manner to trial SmogStop Barrier.

‘Unfortunately, due to the limitations of some of the equipment deployed for testing by National Highways and equipment failure, the testing yielded limited results, from which few conclusions could be reliably ascertained.’

As Highways has reported, a number of links on the SRN have levels of nitrogen dioxide above legal limits with National Highways struggling to identify mitigation measures.

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

Civil Enforcement Officers x 2

£26,403.00 - £28,142.00, Grade 5, 37 hours, Permanent
Parking Services are looking to recruit 2 full time Civil Enforcement Officers to complement its existing workforce. Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council

Senior Street Cleanse Technician x 3 (CDC)

Grade 6 £25,981 - £26,815
We are about to embark on an ambitious programme of change in our city. Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Recruiter: City Of Doncaster Council

Highways Development Officer

£37,280 - £40,777
This is an exciting time for a talented, self-driven professional to join us in the role of Highways Development Management Co-ordinator. Gloucester
Recruiter: Gloucestershire County Council

Principal Highways Development Officer

£48,226 - £51,35
This is an exciting time for a talented, self-driven professional to join us in the role of Highways Principal Development Management Co-ordinator . Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Recruiter: Gloucestershire County Council

Street Lighting Project Engineer

PO2 - £41,442 to £44,331
Help us keep our streets safe, efficient and ready for the future Greenwich, London (Greater)
Recruiter: Royal Borough of Greenwich

Principal Engineer - Highways Development Management

£47,181.00 - £50,269.00, Grade 11, 37 hours, Permanent
We are seeking a dedicated Principal Highways Development Management Engineer to join our team. Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council

Highways Development Management Engineer

£32,061.00 - £46,142.00, Career Grade 7-10, 37 hours, Permanent
Do you want to join a team helping to shape the future of Wakefield through HIghways Development Management? Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council

Highways Project Engineer

£31,537 - £42,839 per annum
Would you like to be part of our friendly, welcoming Highways team, proud to manage all aspects of the highway network? Boroughbridge, York
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Highways Project Engineer

£31,537 - £42,839 per annum
Would you like to be part of our friendly, welcoming Highways team, proud to manage all aspects of the highway network? Skipton, North Yorkshire
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Technician - Highway Inspector

Grade 8 £29,719 - £31,691 per annum
Within the Highways Maintenance Team we are looking for an enthusiastic, customer focused and experienced person Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Highway Design and Construction Manager

Grade N, scp50 £62,443 to scp53 £65,663 per annum, plus essential car user allowance
We embrace AI to enhance our operations and to innovate our services. Bolton, Greater Manchester
Recruiter: Bolton Council

Technician - Highway Inspector

Grade 8 £29,719 - £31,691 per annum
At Derbyshire, we have been on a journey to transform the way we deliver highway services. Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Team Leader (Maintenance Operations)

Grade 10 - £48,226 - £51,356
Cardiff is growing faster than any other capital city in Europe. Cardiff (Caerdydd)
Recruiter: Cardiff Council

Highways Supervisor

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for a permanent Highways Supervisor Forfar, Angus
Recruiter: Amey

Tree Surveyor

£Competitive
We are excited to offer fantastic opportunities for Permanent Tree Surveyors Scotland
Recruiter: Amey

Chief Operating Officer – South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee

£Competitive
We’re looking for a bold, visionary leader to take on the role of Chief Operating Officer Carmarthenshire (Sir Gaerfyrddin)
Recruiter: Carmarthenshire County Council

Clerk of Works - Highways

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for a Clerk of Works to join our dynamic NMC SW Account team at Polmadie. Glasgow, Glasgow City
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Supervisor

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for a permanent Highways Supervisor to join our NMC NE account in Kinross. Perth and Kinross
Recruiter: Amey

Planner - Highways

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for Permanent Planner – Highways to join our NMC SW Account. Glasgow City
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Maintenance Manager

£51,356 - £55,539 per annum
We are looking for an experienced Engineer to join the team as a Highways Maintenance Manager Selby, North Yorkshire
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Latest Video

Subscribe to Highways today to ensure you keep your finger on the pulse of everything happening in the UK road network throughout the year.

SUBSCRIBE NOW